J Tillotson is a UK author specialising in finance, energy and communications
Often the cheapest holidays are the ones you book at the last minute. You may not know where you'll end up, but isn't that half the fun? This is a brief guide to last minute holidays.
There are several places you can find a cheap last-minute holiday. The most popular of these used to be travel agent windows and Teletext, but now the best deals can often be found on the internet when you book directly with the provider.
Allocation on Arrival is perhaps the most common type of late deal. With a typical AOA holiday you would fly to a particular airport, be greeted by a travel rep, and hop on a transfer bus to be taken to your accommodation. There is a certain element of luck involved with this type of holiday in regards to the type of hotel or resort you are sent to, but usually you can specify certain criteria. Most travel agents will guarantee the board basis at least; if you require self catering but you don't mind where, this can be arranged. This type of holiday isn't always suitable for those with young children as facilities may not be guaranteed, but for working couples or older families it can be ideal as a way to go on holiday at short notice.
Often you can get a good deal by nabbing a holiday someone else has cancelled. Hotels will usually sell these cheap so it's worth carrying out hotel comparisons online even a week before you want to go. This has the added advantage of you being able to see pictures of the hotel before you go, and choosing your destination. Then all you have to do is find a cheap flight – also available online – and away you go!
Provided you aren't fussy, booking last minute holidays can save you a lot of money. Cheap holidays don’t have to mean a smelly guesthouse down a back street. You can find high standard holidays simply by waiting until the last minute before booking.
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